How to Care for Orchids

The links in the post below may be affiliate links. Read the full disclosureBy Mavis Butterfield on February 11, 2014 · 5 Comments

My local grocery store always carries potted Orchids about this time of year. Every time I walk in and see them, I have to resist the urge to buy one of each color. They are soooo cool looking, and purchasing one always makes me think I will be somehow simplifying my life–like all Orchid owners are centered and de-cluttered. Crazy, I know, but they have that affect on me.

If you have decided to take one home and fen shui your house, here’s a couple basic care tips to make sure you get the most out of your attempts:

First, you have to try to recreate their natural habitat, the best you can. Think rain forest. While you don’t have to run out and get yourself a water mister and monkeys, you do have to consider that Orchids prefer to cling to rocks and/or barks of trees, with their roots exposed to humidity. So, rule number one, it’s best not to grow your Orchid in dirt. You can actually buy Orchid blends–which include a lot of rough bark. {Don’t be worried if your Orchids roots are someone exposed outside of your growing medium.}

Next, the pot/container. Obviously Orchids aren’t grown in pots in the wild, but they do like to cram themselves into the nooks and crannies of trees and rocks, so smaller is better when it comes to choosing a pot. Choose the smallest pot your Orchid will tolerate and still establish itself. Also, if possible, clear plastic is best. It allows you to simulate exposed roots, by exposing the potted roots to light.

Orchids need dappled light–direct afternoon sunlight is a no-no. They also love to have periods of dry and wet–again, think rain forest. Let them dry out, and then drench them, to simulate a rain cycle {usually this translates into a weekly watering schedule}. Meanwhile, you can simulate humidity by misting them with a water bottle–plus you will look like you have botany basically mastered as you mist your plant.

Try to fertilize your Orchid once a year and re-pot it once a year. After your flowers have disappeared, it is best to trim it back to its base, so nutrients aren’t wasted on growing the spike. You should get more flowers in a year {if you care for your Orchid properly, you should get the blooms to last a couple of months each year, though, it does depend a bit on the variety too.} and your plant should last for years with this cycle.

Comments

I have about 15 orchids on my plant table. They always seem to bloom at the first on the year – they are so beautiful right now! One suggestion that has helped is to water with rain water. The minerals in tap water can be harsh on some plants. All my house plants are watered from my rain barrel and they are super happy!
My boyfriend took our orchids outside to water them last summer and forgot about them. The next day they were all scorched! They looked ugly for a while but every single one bounced back and I believe that sunburning them shocked them into growing. They grew new leaves and bloomed. So if you mess up just give the plant a chance to bounce back.
Also, home improvement stores will put orchids on clearance once their blooms die – it’s a great deal to buy those plants and nurse them to bloom again. Look for the fallen blooms to figure out their color.

I, too, watered my orchid with 3 ice cubes a week, as directed in the instructions. This seemed to work for a while, but then this winter, I had quite a water build up–way too much! The poor thing was soaking in a half pot of water! Be sure to check yours. Might have been the change from summer to fall and winter? Right now, I’m definitely in the “letting it dry out” mode. I was also told to cut the flower stalks back one third, when the plant was through blooming. I did this and it looks like new growth is beginning at the bud below the cut.

I agree wholeheartedly with the whole drenching with water followed by letting it dry out. I have 3 plants in separate sections of a larger pot and they seem to like it when I water with 2 cups or so of water, let them sit and then drain off the extra. I live in dessert climate and moss is a must. As soon as an air root pops out I cover with moss and make sure to keep the moss misted. And a perfect window is good. I have a lovely dappled light south facing window that I love. I’m on my 4th flower cycle in two years with four separate spikes now, so I feel good.